Electrical connect-disconnect device



Sheets-Sheet l R. P. BRIDGES ELECTRICAL CONNECT-DISCONNECT DEVICE Nov. l0, 1970 Filed April 4, 1968 R. P. BRIDGES ELECTRICAL CONNECT-DISCONNECT DEVICE s Sheets-Sheer g Filed April 4. 195e FIEB N0 10, A1970 R. P. BRIDGES 3,39,?l

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` ELEcTRIcAL coNNEcr-DrscoNNEcT nEvIQE Filed Apxill.- 4, 1968 4 .meen-Sheet u Fimo United States Patent O 3,539,971 ELECTRICAL CONNECT-DISCONNECT DEVICE Ronald P. Bridges, Bridges Electric Inc., 2451 Wisconsin St., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 592,093, Nov. 4, 1966. This application Apr. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 722,525

Int. Cl. Hlr .Z3/32 U.S. Cl. 339-109 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEl DISCLOSURE An electrical connect-disconnect device for making a switching connection between electrical lines, with the disconnect device including a male member that is insertable within a female member, with latching means being provided to releasably, yet positively, retain the members in assembled relationship with respect to one another. The male and female members include respective contact members that make electrical contacting engagement with one another when the male member is inserted axially and then rotated into latching engagement with the female member. In a preferred embodiment, the contacts on the male member are rotated into a latching and contacting position in which they are slightly circumferentially offset from the contacts on the female member, with spring means urging the contacts on the female member toward the contacts on the male member so that camming surfaces on the contacts releasably lock the male and female members together.

RELATION 'IO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-impart of Bridges application Ser. No. 592,093, entitled Electrical Connect- Disconnect Device, filed Nov. 4, 1966, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF II-IE INVENTION This invention relates to an electrical connect-disconnect device, and especially to novel apparatus for making a switching connection between electrical lines and to novel methods of manufacturing such a device.

There have heretofore been two Wholly different and independent types of devices used for making connections between main high voltage electrical conductors and branch lines. Connectors for such lines commonly are clamp or pressure devices, and the connection is very difficult to open if this becomes necessary or desirable. Disconnect switches are large, heavy, cumbersome and expensive.

SUMMARY 'Ihe device of the present invention provides a simple and rugged unit which Will function as a disconnect switch, and which may be used as such, but which is as lightweight and compact as many conventional connectors which are between high voltage main and branch lines. The device of the present invention includes a novel electrical contacting arrangement, which is extremely simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. In one embodiment, an internally threaded transverse bore is provided in a male member, with first and second externally threaded electrically conductive inserts being screwed into opposite ends of the bore and into abutment with one another to firmly and positively place the threads on the inserts into sealing and electrically conductive er1- gagement with the threads in the bore. An opening is provided in the outer end of each insert, and a contact member is provided in each opening, with each contact mem- ICC ber including a shank placed into the opening and an enlarged head engaging the insert around the periphery of the opening. The male member is preferably formed of aluminum, while the inserts are copper and the contact members are silver. The contacting arrangement is formed by a novel method wherein after the inserts are threadafbly inserted in the bore, their ends are machined, so as to be ush with the outer surfaces of the male member. The inserts are preferably tightened against each other with a minimum of ten pounds of torque, and after holes are drilled in the outer ends of each insert, a contact member is placed into each of the holes, with the enlarged heads of the contacts being soldered to the inserts.

The contacts that cooperate with the contacts on the male member are mounted in a novel manner on the female member, with a pair of resilient spring ngers each urging a female contact thru an opening in the female member into position to engage the contacts on the male member. The male member is inserted axially into the female member and then rotated to bring the male and female contacts into engagement with one another. In a preferred embodiment the contacts on both members are convex, and the male member is rotated far enough that the Imale contacts cam past the female contacts to a position in which their respective apices are slightly circumferentially offset and the biasing springs provide a fforce tending to maintain the male member in a locked position relative to the female member.

OBJECT S OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical connect-disconnect switching device which obviates the problems and disadvantages of prior art structures.

An object of the invention is to provide a connectdisconnect device which is extremely light in Weight when compared to prior art devices, so that the device may be easily carried and manipulated by an operator. The device of the present invention is on the order olf 1/12 of the Weight of comparable prior art disconnects.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extremely versatile electrical connect-disconnect switching device which has usefulness in many environments, such as in connecting and disconnecting a branch line to a main power line, or in connecting power lines in a substation assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will occupy a minimum amount of space, both in use and when stored.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connect-disconnect switching device which requires no external supports when in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device as set forth above which can be readily installed with conventional commercially available equipment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connect-disconnect device as described above which is extremely simple in construction, consisting essentially of a male plug and a female socket, so that even an unskilled operator can make a high quality electrical conuection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as set forth in the preceding paragraph with positive latch means for securing the male part to the female part with a cam action, to obviate the possibility of the device becoming disconnected during use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device as described above with precision located contacts on the male part which cooperate with movable spring loaded contacts on the female part.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a connect-disconnect device which is extremely inexpensive, because of the judicious selection of materials which minimizes the amount of copper and silver while still retaining silver to silver contact within the device.

These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description taken in connection with the annexed drawings,

wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention used to connect a branch line to a main power line;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the male plug member of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the male plug member;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 1.;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary views, similar to FIG. 8, and illustrating modifications of the invention wherein the contacts on the male member are diametrically offset with respect to the contacts on the female member.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will ybe pointed out in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several Views, theconnect-disconnect device of the present invention is illustrated in its entirety at 10 in FIG. 1, and includes generally a female member 12 and a male member 13 which are bolted, respectively, to conventional first and second connector members 11 and 14, respectively which are connected to a main line M and a branch line B.

First connector member 11 is seen in FIG. 1 to be T- shaped and includes a transversely extending cross-piece 15 which is of U-shaped cross-section, and an elongate flat stem portion 16 having extended parallel faces 16a and 16h, and a pair of spaced holes 17. The cross-piece 15 embraces a tap point of the main line wherein it is in electrically conductive engagement with the main line cable.

Female member 12 includes an elongated fiat mounting portion 18 having extended parallel faces 18a and 18h, and a pair of holes 19 which register with the holes 17 so that fastening bolts 20 and nuts 21, together with lock washers 22, may be used to positively secure the female member 12 to the first connector member 11 with the extended faces 16a and 1811 in firmly conductive contact with one another.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, female member 12 includes an integral, generally annular body 23 which defines a longitudinal socket 24 at one side of mounting portion 18. As seen in FIG. l, the lower end of annular body 23 extends below the lower end of mounting portion 18, while the upper end 25 of body 23 is below the upper end of mounting portion .18. An integral arcuate Wall (FIG. 2) is positioned above the upper end 25 of annular body 23 and extends between mounting portion 18 and a longitudinal web 27 that is aligned with mounting portion 18 at the opposite side of body 23. A transverse integral web 28 extends laterially from annular body 23 at the lower end of web 27, and a pair of spaced integral bosses 29 and 30 which extend outwardly from body 23 and downwardly from opposite sides of web 28 in planes parallel to that of web 27 have aligned bolt holes 31 and 32; while openings 33 and 34 in body 23 are positioned in lateral alignment with the bolt holes 31 and 32. A bolt 48 impales Ibolt holes 31 and 32, and cooperates with a nut 49 to secure a pair of contact fingers 47 and leaf springs 50 in parallel relationship on opposite sides of bosses 29 and 30 with contact surfaces of the fingers flanking the openings 33 and 34 and urged toward one another by springs 50. Contacts 51 on the fingers 47 extend into the openings.

An internal circumferential flange 35 on body portion 23 defines a transverse shoulder 36 adjacent the upper end of socket 24, and there are three spaced radial notches 37, 38 and 39 in the flange 35 which are positioned, respectively, at 12 oclock, 9 oclock and 4:30 as viewed in FIG. 2. Internal clearance recesses 40 and 41 (FIG. 8) are formed in annular body 23 for a purpose to be described.

Locking means 43 (FIG. 4) is provided on the upper surface of flange 35, and includes circumferential inclined camming surface 44 immediately adjacent each of notches 37-39. Flanges 35 further includes an arcuate recess 45 immediately adjacent each inclined camming surface 44, and a shoulder 46 is provided at the side of each recess 45 opposite from inclined camming surface 44.

The structure of contact assemblies 51 will be best understood from a consideration of FIG. 9; and as shown therein, a sleeve 52 of electrically conductive material, such as copper, is inserted within an opening 53 in contact finger 47 and an outwardly extending flange 54 on sleeve 53 is positioned in engagement with the face of carrier member 47 surrounding opening 53. The opposite end 55 of sleeve 52 is deformed radially outwardly, as by swagng, to positively secure the sleeve 52 to the carrier member 47, and to insure good electrical contact therebetween. A coin silver contact 57 is pressed into a central opening 56 in sleeve 52 and' the enlarged head of contact 57 is soldered to the end of sleeve 52 around the periphery thereof. After the aforedescribed contact elements have been assembled, the exposed surfaces of copper sleeve 52 are coated with solder, so that no copper surfaces are exposed.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 to 8, male member 13 includes a mounting plate 60 which has extended fiat, parallel opposite faces 60a and 60h and has openings 61 to receive bolts 79 which impale holes 78C in an element 78 of connector 14 and cooperate with nuts 79a and washers 79b to secure face 60a firmly against a flat face 78a of connector 14. Male member 13 further includes a main cylindrical body 62 extending upwardly from one side of mounting 60; and a ring 63 is provided at the bottom of mounting plate 60 in general alignment with body 62. The upper end' of cylindrical body 62 has a bevel `66, and a shoulder 65 defines the lower end of a tip portion 64 of reduced diameter which terminates in a generally conical end portion 67 having a rounded nose 68. Radial lugs 69, 70` and 71 are presed into openings in tip portion 64 and are so spaced that when tip portion 64 is inserted into the socket 24 of female member 12 the lugs 69, 70 and 71 enter the notches 37, 38 and 39, respectively (see FIG. 2). Contact assemblies 74 are provided at opposite sides of body portion 62, and the construction of a first embodiment thereof is seen in FIG. 7.

Cylindrical body 62 has an internally threaded transverse bore 73; and each contact assembly 72 includes an externally threaded flat bottomed threaded stud 74 of material such as tellurium copper alloy which has high electric conductivity. The studs 74 are screwed into opposite ends of bore 73 until they abut, and are then tightened against one another with a minimum of foot pounds torque so as to press the threads on the studs into intimate engagement with the threads in the bore 73. Male member 13 is preferably formed of aluminum, so that the threads of the somewhat softer studs 74 will give slightly and conform exactly to the configuration of the threads within bore 73. This manner of connection provides not only a large area of effective electrical contact between studs 74 and member 62, but also provides an efficient moisture and vapor seal that positively prevents atmospheric intrusion into the bore 73. Thus, a high area, high pressure, low resistance contact is provided between studs 74 and aluminum member 13. After the studs 74 have been tightened against one another, their outer ends are machined off flush With the outer surface of body portion 62. Central holes 75 are then drilled into the ends of studs 74, and coin silver contacts 76 are pressed into the holes and peripherally soldered to the ends of studs 74 to seal bore 73. The exposed copper surfaces are then coated with solder so that no copper surfaces are exposed.

In use the connector 11 is rst secured to the female member 12, and the connector 14 is secured to the male member 13. The portion 15 of connector 11 is then placed over the main line M, so as to make positive electrical contact with the wires therein. A conventional hook stick or clamp stick is then engaged with the ring 63 on male member 13, and the cylindrical body 62 of the male member is inserted within the socket 24 of the female member 12. The lower portion of socket 24 is large enough to accommodate the lugs 69-71, and the contacts 72 may initially be positioned in the clearance openings 40 and 41 as the male member 13 is moved vertically upwardly within socket 24. As the cylindrical body 62 of male member 13 approaches the end of bore 24, a one turn spring 82 seated upon shoulder 65 of the body 62 presses a gasket 81 against the shoulder 36 at the upper end of socket 24. During this latter movement, lugs 69-71 pass upwardly through slots 37- 39, respectively, to a position in alignment with cam surfaces 44. Further upward movement is then imparted to male member 13 to compress the spring 82, and the male member 13 is twisted about 45 in a counterclockwise direction so that the studs 69-'71 still ride up the inclined camming surfaces 44 and snap into the recesses 45. As the male member 13 is twisted, its contacts 72 move into intimate silver to silver electrical contacting engagement with the contacts 51 on contact ngers 47 of the female member, and the contacts on the male and female members are held' firmly together by the leaf springs 50.

Male member 12 and female member 13 are preferably formed entirely of aluminum, except for the previously described contact assemblies 51 and 72, and for the lugs 69-71, which are preferably stainless steel, so that the connect-disconnect device of the present invention is relatively lightweight and inexpensive. The silver to silver contact between contacting assemblies 51 and 72 completely eliminates bi-metal connections, and the movement of contact assemblies 72 relative to contact assemblies 51 during connecting and' disconnecting serves to rub olf any silver oxides that may be present upon the contact assemblies so that effective silver to silver contact is made.

In a slightly modified version of the invention, which has particular utility in substation connections andthe like, the structure is substantially identical to the previously described embodiment, except that the male and female members are formed of bronze rather than aluminum. Additionally, with bronze structural members, the contacts on the male member 13 may be formed as shown in FIG. 8, wherein diametrically opposed openings '83 are provided in the cylindrical body 62, with coin silver contacts 84 pressed therein and soldered around the peripheral edge of the enlarged head thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. l() and 1l, it will be noted that the structure disclosed therein is essentially the same as that previously described, with common reference numerals being used to designate corresponding elements. The embodiments of FIGS. 10 and ll differ essentially from the previously described embodiments, in that the contacts on the male member are slightly circumferentially offset with respect to the contacts on the female member when the male member is in a locked position relative to the female member. With reference to FIG. l0, it will be noted that the diametrically opposed openings 83a in the male member are circumferentially offset with respect to the contacts 51 on the contact fingers 47 when the male member 13 is locked with respect to the female member 12. When the male member 13 is inserted into the female member 12, the male member is rotated in a clockwise direction, so that the convex contacts S4 in openings 83a will slide between the convex contacts 51 on contact arms 47 with a camming action to flex the contact arms 47 outwardly until the contacts 84 move past a center line between the contacts 51. Leaf springs 50 preferably urge the contacts 51 into engagement with the contacts 84 with sufficient force to not only retain the contacts in proper electrical conductive engagement with respect to one another, but also to provide a latching means for positively, yet releasably, retaining the male member against movement with respect to the female member by a camming action between the respective contacts. In an illustrative embodiment, the axes of openings 83a and the apices of contacts 84 are offset 6 with respect to the center line between the apices of contacts 51. It will be readily appreciated that the retention force that results from the offset of the contacts 84 with respect to contacts 51 tends to keep the male member in a locked position, and this is an important feature of the invention, since outdoor power lines are subjected to wind forces and vibration and the security of the connection is essential. The present invention also comprehends that the retentive force provided by the offset contact arrangement may be sufcient to eliminate the necessity of providing a further locking means, such as provided by lugs `69-71 and detent recesses 45.

FIG. ll is essentially the same as FIG. l0, except that it illustrates male contacts of the type shown in FIG. 7 diametrically offset with respect to the contacts 51 ou the female member. In the embodiment of FIG. 1l, the bore 73a in the male member is also preferably offset an angular amount in the range of 6.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that a preferred embodiment of the invention, and a modification thereof has been disclosed which is light in weight, extremely simple in construction, and which completely fulfills the objects of the invention. The described structure has no voltage rating, and can be used on anything from a low voltage distribution circuit to a high voltage transmission line.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations .should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A connect-disconnect device comprising: a female member having an annular wall defining a socket which is open at one end, means defining a first shoulder in said socket; resilient contact finger means on said female member having an electrical contact; a male member having a cylindrical body for insertion into said socket through Said 4open end, said male member having an electrical contact adapted to make a firm sliding engagement with the contact on the contact finger means, means defining a second shoulder intermediate the ends of said male member; interengaging means on the male and female members adapted to releasably lock said members together with their contacts completing an electric circuit when the male member is inserted and said means are interengaged, said interengaging means including a fiange on the annular wall extending into the socket and having a surface remote from the open end of the socket which is inclined circumferentially away from said open end and terminates in a recess, and a lug on the cylindrical body which rides on said inclined surface into said recess as the male member is rotated; and resilient means biasing the male member toward said open end, said resilient means being defined by a compression spring that is cornpressed between said shoulders as the male member is rotated to positively, yet releasably, retain said lug in said recess.

2. A connect-disconnect device comprising: a female member having an annular wall defining a socket which is open at one end, said socket having a pair of diametrically opposed openings therein; a pair of resilient contact finger means on said female member, each having an electrical Contact thereon in alignment with one of said openings; means biasing each of said finger means to urge the contact thereon toward its respective one of said openings; a male member having a cylindrical body for insertion into said socket through said open end, said male member having a pair of diametrically opposed electrical contacts, each being movable into alignment with one of said openings and each being adapted to make a firm sliding engagement with one of the contacts on a contact finger means; and interengaging means on the male and female members adapted to releasably lock said members together with their contacts completing an electric circuit when the male member is inserted and said means are interengaged.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the female member includes a pair of opposed, parallel flat surfaces on opposite sides of the socket, and in which the contact fingers are elongate fiat strips, each secured to one of said surfaces.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the male member includes a pair of diametrically opposed openings7 and said male member contacts are formed by silver members having a shank received in an opening and an enlarged head positioned against said male member adjacent the opening.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the male and female members are formed of aluminum and the contact members are silver.

6. A connect-disconnect device as set forth in claim 2 wherein a ring is provided on said male member to -receive a hook stick.

7. An electrical contacting device comprising: a support member of electrically conductive material having an internally threaded transverse bore; first and second externaly threaded electrically conductive inserts, screwed into opposite ends of said bore and into abutment with one another to firmly and positively press the threads on said inserts into sealing and electrically conductive engagement with the threads in said bore, said inserts each including an opening in the outer end thereof; and first and second contact members, each received in one of said openings.

8. The device of claim 7 in which each of the contact members includes a shank pressed in its respective insert opening and an enlarged head engaging the insert around the periphery of the opening.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the support member is aluminum, the inserts are copper, and the contact members are silver.

10. The device of claim 9 in which a silver coating is provided on the outer ends of the inserts around the heads of the contact members, so that only silver surfaces are exposed.

11. The method of forming an electrical contacting device comprising: forming an internally threaded transverse bore in a support member; screwing first and second inserts into opposite ends of said bore; tightening said inserts against one another to place the threads on said inserts in sealing engagement with the threads in said bore and in electrically conducting contact therewith; machining the ends of said inserts so that they are flush with the outer surfaces of said support member; drilling a hole in the outer end of each insert; and pressing a Contact member into each of said holes.

12. The method of claim -11 wherein said inserts are tightened against each other with a minimum of l0 foot pounds torque.

13. The method of claim 11 in which said contact members include an enlarged head engaging said insert around the periphery of said openings, and including the further steps of soldering said enlarged heads to said inserts, and coating the exposed surfaces of said inserts.

14. A connect-disconnect device comprising: a female member having an annular wall defining a socket which is open at one end, said socket having a pair of diametrically opposed openings therein; a pair of resilient contact finger means on said female member, each having an electrical Contact thereon in alignment with one of said openings; means biasing each of said finger means to urge the contact thereon toward its respective one of said openings; a male member having a cylindrical body for insertion into said socket through said open end, said male member having a pair of diametrically opposed electrical contacts, each being movable into alignment with one of said openings and each being adapted to make a firm sliding engagement with one of the contacts on a contact finger means; and means for releasably locking said members together with their contacts cornpleting an electrical circuit.

15. A connect-disconnect device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said releasable locking means is defined by interengaging means on the male and female members.

16. A connect-disconnect device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said releasable locking means is provided, at least in part, by having the contacts on said male member circumferentially offset from the contacts on said contact finger means when the contacts are in engagement.

17. A connect-disconnect device comprising: a female member having an annular wall defining a socket which is open at one end; resilient contact finger means on said female member having an electrical contact; a male member having a cylindrical body for axial insertion into said socket through said open end and rotation after insertion; interengaging means on said male and female members which are operable by rotation of the male member within the female member to prevent axial movement of the male member; an electrical contact on the male member adapted to make a firm sliding engagement with the contact on the contact nger means, and said male and female contacts having cooperating camming surfaces which override one another into an interengaged position when the male member is rotated, the resilience of the contact finger means producing a force tending to maintain the camming surfaces in their interengaged position and thereby releasably lock the male member against reverse rotation.

18. A connect-disconnect device comprising: a female lmember having an annular wall defining a socket which is open at one end, said socket having a pair of diametrically opposed openings; a pair of resilient contact finger means on said female member, each having a contact thereon in alignment with and projecting through one of said openings, said contacts being provided with camming surfaces; means biasing each of said finger means to urge the contact thereon through its respective one of said openings; a male member having a cylindrical body for insertion into said socket through said open end and rotation after insertion; interengaging means on said male and female members which are operable by rotation of the male member Within the female member to prevent axial movement of the male member; a pair of diametrically opposed electrical contacts on the male member each of which is provided with a camming surface, each of said contacts being movable into alignment with one of said openings and each being adapted to make a rrn sliding engagement with one of the contacts on a contact nger means with the camming surfaces on the male contacts overriding the camming surfaces on the female contacts so that said contacts are interengaged when the male member is rotated, the resilience of the contact nger means producing a force tending to maintain the male member against reverse rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Evans 339-109 Hill 339-259 Douglas 339-188 Moody 339-259 X McCloud 339-109 X Kennedy et al. 339-42 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,628 11/ 1923 Great Britain.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

